Sustainable drainage application fees

A national fee structure for approving SuDS Approving Body (SAB) applications has been set out in the Sustainable Drainage (Application for Approval Fees) (Wales) Regulations 2018. This provides for fees to be charged on the basis of a set amount for each application plus an additional amount determined by the size of the area of land identified on a plan accompanying an application, the ‘construction area’, as set out below:  

£350 for each application, plus (up to a maximum of £7,500):

• for every additional 0.1 hectare (ha) up to 0.5 ha - £70
• for every additional 0.1 ha between 0.5 ha and 1 ha - £50
• for every additional 0.1 ha between 1 ha and 5 ha - £20
• for every additional 0.1 ha above 5 ha - £10

Using the fee structure above to calculate application fees, discounted fees are to be charged by the SAB in circumstances where:

• Two or more applications or alternative proposals in a single application are made. The SAB can charge the application fee for the proposal which would attract the highest fee, plus half the sum of the fee chargeable for each of the remaining applications and/or alternative proposals.  
• The applicant is a town or community council. The SAB can charge a fee that is half the amount of the application fee.

The SAB may not charge a fee in relation to the modification of an application, where, before determination by the SAB, an application for approval is modified by agreement between the SAB and the developer.

The SAB may charge a fee based on half the amount of the application fee charged for a previously approved application, where the approval was given within the preceding 12 months and the subsequent application relates wholly or mainly to the previously approved SuDS scheme (including construction proposals and conditions of approval of the previous application).

The SAB may not charge a fee in relation to a subsequent application for approval where the application relates only to a condition of approval. Unless the condition is in relation to the construction of the SuDS scheme and was made under the previously approved application.

Where the SAB approves an application subject to a condition that an inspection(s) of the SuDS scheme are undertaken, it can charge an inspection fee of £168 for each inspection.